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Television History
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Elvis on Ed Sullivan
Presley made his first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show on
September 9, and 60 million viewers tuned in — the largest audience to that point in television history. By
his third appearance the following January, objections over Presley’s “lewd” performing style led to the
controversial edict that he only appear from the waist up. But by that point, the damage was done; rock and
roll had gone legitimate, with Presley as its poster boy. Photo: STEREOGUM -
Apollo 11 Landing
Apollo 11 landed on the moon on July 20, 1969, the
networks covered the event for 30 straight hours. On the CBS desk was Walter Cronkite, rubbing his
hands with glee and able to say little more than “Oh, boy.” Cameras on board the Apollo 11 captured this
highlight of human achievements — and beamed it to a spellbound world’s televisions. Photo: NASA -
Nixon Resigns
The following afternoon, he bid farewell to his staff and departed via the
presidential helicopter, posing one more time for photographers and TV cameras, a smile on his face, his
arms raised with his hands in a V-for-victory pose. It was an appropriately surreal farewell, and an apt
conclusion to a political soap opera that riveted the nation for over a year. Photo: HERALD TRIBUNE -
Miracle on Ice
One of the greatest TV sports moments ever came on February 22, 1980, when the ragtag underdog US
Olympic hockey team faced the heavily favored Soviet team at Lake Placid, New York. The Soviets had dominated Olympic play from 1956 to 1976, but the never-say-die spirit of the American squad led to a surprise 4-3 win, a victory confirmed, as the clock ran down, by commentator Al Michaels’ cry, “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” Photo: USA HOCKEY -
Johnny Carsons FInal Tonight Show
Johnny Carson remained the undisputed king of late night. But in 1992, after 30 years on the job, Johnny decided it was time to step down. In a lovely farewell that he wrote himself, Carson told his audience, “It has been an honor and a privilege to come into your homes all these years and entertain you." Photo: DVD TALK -
OJ Simpson Trial
Simpson’s ex-wife
Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman had been killed three days earlier; charged with the double
murder, Simpson was to turn himself in earlier that day. He didn’t. Instead, he left a bizarre note with his
friend Robert Kardashian (yes, of those Kardashians), insisting that he “had nothing to do with Nicole’s
murder” but warning the public, “Don’t feel sorry for me. I’ve had a great life.” Photo: NY POST -
Muhammad Ali Lights Olympic Torch
hHs appearance at the opening ceremonies of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta was kept a secret until the moment he
appeared to take the Olympic torch from swimming champ Janet Evans and light the cauldron. The Champ shook slightly, an effect of his Parkinson’s disease, but his quiet dignity — and the crowd’s enthusiastic response — were enough to give any viewer goosebumps. Photo: TERRIFIC TOP 10 -
Election Night
With various networks and exit polling service calling, then recanting, both the state of Florida and the entire election for both Bush and Gore, election night ended without a clear winner. The ultimate outcome was, to say the least, controversial, but you’ve gotta say this: with grease boards waving, tightening results flying, and Dan Rather in full-on folksy weirdo mode, Photo: ABC NEWS
it was truly gripping television. -
September 11th Attacks
The morning news shows were winding down on that Tuesday morning in September when reports came
in to their control rooms: a plane had hit the World Trade Center. Initial word was that it was a small
passenger plane, but it was soon revealed as a commercial airliner, and when another smashed into the
second tower, it was clear that a coordinated attack was underway. Those revelations, those of an attack
on the Pentagon, and the crumbling of each tower happened on live television,
Photo: RSVLTS -
Hurricane Katrina
Severe weather coverage has, by now, become a series of visual cues: breaking waves, heavy rains,
on-the-scene reporters braving the forces in network windbreakers. But Katrina became more than just a
weather story, as New Orleans’ levees broke, thousands of residents pleaded for help from news cameras,
and reporters on the ground relayed stories of heartbreak and fear from the streets, the roofs, and the New
Orleans Superdome. Photo: SACBEE